Evidence sought in Lancaster murder case involving Aston brothers

As of Monday, investigators were still looking for the firearm used to kill a 62-year-old Lancaster County man during an Aug. 17 home invasion, as well as cash and pills taken by his three alleged murderers, including two Aston brothers.

A preliminary hearing for Kyle Wunder, 22, his brother Cody, 24, both of Bunting Lane in Aston, and Stephen M. Harmer, 26, of Kirkwood, Lancaster County, initially scheduled Monday, was continued. They are now scheduled to appear next month before Magisterial District Judge Stuart J. Mylin in Quarryville, though no exact date has been determined.

In addition to the firearm, investigators are still looking for some or all of the money taken from victim Douglas C. Herr's home in Drumore Township, along with prescription medication he kept in a safe, according to court documents filed by Pennsylvania State Police in Lancaster.

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"It is reasonable to conclude" that the firearm, money and other missing items may be hidden in a silver 1997 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck in which the three men were seen immediately after the murder, according to the affidavit investigators filed for a warrant to search the vehicle. The search warrant for the truck, which is owned by the mother of the Wunder brothers, was signed Sept. 4.

The homes of the defendants were previously searched.

The affidavit for the warrant to search the truck indicated authorities were looking for a number of items from firearms to DNA and other trace evidence to ownership documents. They were also looking to collect and analyze any and all cellular phones located inside the vehicle, as well as any GPS or travel devices, currency in excess of $500 and any prescription pill bottles in Herr's name.

Authorities say on Aug. 17 after invaders shot their way into Herr's home, they proceeded to shoot a padlock off a safe that contained as much as $200,000. Lisa Marie Herr arrived at the house on Furniss Road the morning of Aug. 18 to find her father's body in the hallway. Lancaster County Forensic Pathologist Dr. Wayne K. Ross later ruled Herr's death a homicide by a gunshot wound to the head.

During the invasion, Cody Wunder was shot in the leg by Herr as he attempted to defend his home. Afterward, Cody allegedly ordered Kyle to shoot the homeowner.

"Of course I'm going to shoot the guy. He shot my brother," Kyle Wunder allegedly admitted later to an acquaintance, according to authorities and documents.

Documents indicated Kyle Wunder shot the victim twice, the second time in the head, according to information provided to investigators by an acquaintance. The acquaintance told investigators Cory said they took $200,000 from the safe, as well as some prescription pills. Investigators were told that the Wunder brothers each took $50,000 and Harmer took $100,000.

Authorities say Harmer knew of the money and had discussed it with one or both of the Wunders, even pointing out the house to the siblings.

Harmer drove the three, armed with a shotgun, to Herr's house, where they "shot their way into the residence through the back door," Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said after the arrests by Pennsylvania State Police in Lancaster.

According to the most recent affidavit, Harmer was interviewed on the front lawn of his home on Aug. 18. During that interview, he provided two different cellphone numbers, one which he indicated was his old cell phone that he had broken over the weekend. He provided a number for his new phone, as well. A court order was obtained for call records on the phone between Aug. 17-18.

"Those records indicate that between August 17-18, 2012, this phone had numerous phone calls and text messages between Cody Wunder, Rebecca Hensel and Lisa Herr," the document states.

According to the affidavit, Lisa Herr was interviewed by authorities on Aug. 18. She told an investigating trooper that she left the house, where she resided with her father, on Aug. 12 at about 8 p.m., at which time her father was alive.

She said that when she returned to the house in the early morning hours of Aug. 18, he was lying in the hallway, apparently dead from a severe head wound, the affidavit states.

Documents describe Hensel as Harmer's girlfriend. During an interview by PSP on Aug. 29, she said "Harmer and Cody Wunder had been talking about robbing money from Lisa Herr's father about six month or seven months before this crime," the affidavit states. Additionally, she said she was present with Harmer and the Wunder brothers at a bar in Quarryville on the night of Aug. 17-18.

She said the three men left the bar together, late.

About 30 minutes later, Harmer called her to come to his house. When she arrived, she saw Cody Wunder had been shot in the leg and that he was lying in the bed of a silver Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck. She subsequently learned from a conversation she had with the three men that they had gone to Herr's house to rob him, the affidavit states. According to her statement, Harmer said he waited outside while the Wunder brothers went inside.

No charges have been filed against anyone other than the Wunders and Harmer.

According to documents, the trio could have made off with less than $200,000 -- an amount Herr received as a settlement in his wife's 2009 death. A granddaughter of the victim told investigators during an interview on Aug. 18, as of several weeks prior, Herr had about $30,000 in the safe in his bedroom.

Another granddaughter who previously lived in the residence with Herr, told investigators there were multiple firearms in the house and that Herr was known to carry a handgun and would likely defend himself.

In addition to homicide, the Wunders and Harmer are charged with robbery, burglary and conspiracy. All three are being held at Lancaster County Prison without bail.

According to online records, the Wunders are represented by court-appointed attorneys; Jeffrey Allen Conrad for Kyle and Christopher Lyden for Cody. Private attorney Mark Forrest Walmer is representing Harmer.

An attempt to reach the defendants' attorneys after business hours Monday was unsuccessful.